May 2, 2007

Meanwhile, "styles" Sections Are Thriving

by David GreenbergSeveral months back, this blog had a lively discussion about the state of American book reviewing. Despite our hopes for a reinvigoration of the craft, the latest news is bleak. According to John Freeman of the National Book Critics Circle (of which I'm a member), the Atlanta Journal Constitution recently became the latest newspaper to cut its book editor position, and it may do away with its book review altogether. A petition to save it is here. The move follows the Los Angeles Times's decision to fold its review into its Sunday opinion section--continuing the downgrading of that paper's book review that began when editor Steve Wasserman left in 2005. Furthermore, Freeman notes, at "dozens upon dozens of other papers book coverage has been cut back or slashed all together, moved, winnowed, filled with more wire copy, or generally been treated as expendable."